Who are the new kids on the block?

Growth in the cruise industry shows no signs of abating with cruise lines queuing up to get their orders into the shipyards of Europe. Angela Cronin finds out what the industry has to look forward to over the next few years.

MSC CRUISES

No sooner will MSC Cruises be putting the finishing touches to the launch of MSC Meraviglia, when the cruise line will be gearing up for the arrival of the next addition to the MSC fleet.

MSC Seaside is the first of a new generation of cruise ships, which has a design that is inspired by elegant beach-view apartments.

Every element of the ship aims to bring guests closer to the sea with design features such as a 360° ocean level promenade, panoramic glass lifts and a Accommodation includes aft corner suites, modular cabins designed for families and groups of up to 10 people and exclusive balcony cabins with a private terrace overlooking the promenade. Also, 76% of the cabins are on the outside of the ship.
MSC Seaside launches towards the end of this year and will homeport in Miami.

Meanwhile, sister ship, MSC Seaview, is set to enter service next spring in the Mediterranean, while there is an option on a third Seaside class ship.

HOLLAND AMERICA LINE

With Koningsdam just completing its first full year of cruising, construction has begun on sister ship Nieuw Statendam, the second Pinnacle Class vessel for HAL Due for delivery in November 2018, HAL president Orlando Ashford said: “With Pinnacle Class we have been able to try new things, and while Nieuw Statendam is a sister to Koningsdam, we do have some new ideas that will be revealed in time.”

So watch this space…

SEABOURN

Seabourn has started taking bookings for the maiden season of new ship Seabourn Ovation, which launches in spring next year, with a variety of voyages in Europe between May and November.

Ovation will be the second ship in the Odyssey-class category with sister ship Encore launching earlier this year.

Like of all the ships in the Seabourn family, the design of Ovation is all about creating the luxury yacht feel.

With room for just 600 passengers, the line’s high ratio of space her guests and personalised service for each guest remains Seabourn’s USP.
Like Encore, Ovation will be configured with one additional deck and new expanded public areas.

Every suite will feature a private veranda.

ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL

The giant US cruise line is no shrinking violet when it comes to big ship launches. Harmony of the Seas, which set sail last year, claimed the accolade of the world’s largest ship, a title it will only hold for a short time as hot on the heels of the 2016 launch is the April 2018 unveiling of Oasis class sister ship Symphony of the Seas.

Carrying 5,494 guests at double occupancy (Harmony carries 5,479) and equipped with 2,775 guest rooms (28 more than Harmony), the 18-deck Symphony will be the world’s largest ships.

Like Harmony, Symphony will have distinct neighbourhoods, such as the tree-lined Central Park and the Royal Promenade, the Ultimate Abyss waterslide, a trio of alternative waterslides; and Splashaway Bay kids waterpark. In addition, a second pool will be added to the solarium on deck 15, meaning more space for adults to relax in.

Symphony will sail its maiden season around the Mediterranean.

Other new ships on the Royal Caribbean launch list are: two Quantum-class ships in 2019 and 2020; a fifth Oasis ship in 2021; the first Icon-class ship in 2022; and the second Icon-class ship in 2024.

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